A courier from Brighton has been banned from the road for three years after he admitted drink driving a week before Christmas.
Lee Cleaver had had more than twice as much to drink as the law allows when he was arrested in Ditchling Road, Brighton, on Sunday 18 December.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (5 January), Cleaver, 33, pleaded guilty to driving with 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
The courier, who was caught in Ditchling Road, Brighton, was banned from driving for 36 months. He was also ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid work, pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.
He was among dozens of convicted drink and drug drivers to be named by Sussex Police as those caught in December appear before the courts.
Sabrina Khan, 23, a shop worker, of Riley Road, Brighton, was arrested on Saturday 10 December in Prince Albert Street, Brighton. She was charged with driving with 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 29 December. She was given 10 points on her driving licence and ordered to pay a £73 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
John Grassi, 56, unemployed, of Conyers Way, Loughton, Essex, was arrested in West Street, Rottingdean, also on Saturday 10 December. He was also charged with driving with 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
He also pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 29 December and was banned from driving for 36 months. He was ordered to pay a £30 fine, £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge, as well as being given a rehabilitation order.
Lindsey McCarthy, 26, a residential care worker, of Oakapple Road, Southwick, was arrested on Friday 16 December in Manor Road, Lancing. She was charged with driving with 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 3 January and was banned from driving for 17 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Sussex Police said that officers had arrested 208 people for drink and drug driving or related offences in the annual Christmas crackdown. And so far 51 of those arrested have been dealt with by the courts.
Superintendent Chris Moon, head of roads policing for Surrey and Sussex, said: “While I am pleased to see that those caught breaking the law are facing the consequences of their actions by way of prosecution, it is still disappointing to see that a small minority of drivers think it is acceptable to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“Driving while under the influence is a serious offence and it won’t be tolerated.
“Just over 28 per cent of those arrested in Sussex during the campaign were unfit to drive through drugs or were over the specified limit for having a controlled drug in their system.
“This follows the introduction of prescribed limits for a number of legal and illegal drugs in March 2015.
“Since this time our officers have been using roadside drug wipe testing kits which take swabs from the motorist and can detect cocaine or cannabis use within 10 minutes.
“The consequences of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs isn’t just a fine or a driving ban.
“You could lose your job, your family and potentially cause significant injury or even death.
“I would urge all drivers to think carefully before they get behind the wheel of their car.”
